Temple Emanuel

First Friday @ Shabbat Alive! Breakfast Break-Fast
2025-10-03 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
What to do the day after Yom Kippur? Start your new Jewish year with the joy of Shabbat Alive! Keep the marvelous Break-fast energy going with our special breakfast Break-Fast first Friday Oneg.
What is First Friday? Start with an inspiring musical Shabbat Alive! Service in the Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary or Minyan Ma’or led Kabbalat Shabbat in the Gann Chapel, then stay for a beautiful post-service Oneg filled with delicious food and fellowship.
Who is First Friday for? First Fridays are for everyone, age 0 on up!
Why come to First Friday? To lift your spirit. To be inspired by ancient words animated with new melodies. To connect with a community of friends – old and new. To stand generation to generation, together.
View the First Friday 2025-26 Calendar HERE→

Talmud Class with Our Clergy
2025-10-04 08:30 - 09:20, 2025-10-11 08:30 - 09:20 | Hybrid (In Person and Virtual Options), 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Start Shabbat each week with a special hour of learning and discussion on a variety of Jewish issues with Wes, Michelle, Elias, Aliza and Dan as our clergy team connects the lessons of our sacred texts with the realities of our lives. The clergy team will close with a song that leads into Shabbat morning services at 9:30.
Join us on livestream in the Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary

Main Shabbat Morning ServiceWith Guest Speaker Rabbi Ravid Tilles
2025-10-04 09:30 - 12:00 | Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us for a special Shabbat morning service with guest speaker, Rabbi Ravid Tilles.
Sermon Topic: Now Is the Best Time to Be Counter Cultural!
Judaism has always, from the very beginning, been a counter point to the surrounding culture. Most of us have grown up in a Jewish community that has struggled to blend our surrounding culture with our ancient tradition. But as the culture around us becomes unbearable, maybe this is the exact time to reclaim our roots!
About Rabbi Ravid Tilles
Rabbi Ravid Tilles is the School Rabbi and Director of Jewish Life and Learning at Schechter Boston. He and his wife, Yaffa, and three sons are members of the Temple Emanuel family.

Ruach Shabbat Services: Grades K-6
2025-10-04 10:45 - 12:00, 2025-10-11 10:45 - 12:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
For Grades K-6. Join Jon Tatelman on Shabbat morning in Room 22 at Temple Emanuel for a fun children’s service!

Tot Shabbat with Rebecca and David
2025-10-04 11:00 - 11:45 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us for a fabulous Tot Shabbat service geared towards children from birth to age 5! We will sing our favorite songs, create beautiful crafts, and have challah and grape juice. After the service, we’ll all go up onto the bimah for a special treat!

Temple Emanuel Teen Choir
2025-10-05 09:00 - 09:30 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Calling all 6th-12th graders who love to sing and make music! Perform at holiday and concert events. All levels welcome.
Meets right before Religious School, but any Temple Emanuel teen can participate. Morning snack provided!
Register→

ONOT Aviv Israeli Dance Troupe
2025-10-05 09:00 - 09:30 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
ONOT Aviv is Temple Emanuel’s premiere Israeli Dance Troupe for children in grades 2-5!
(ONOT means “seasons” and Aviv means “Spring”)
Students will learn Harkeda (popular, just-for-fun) dances as well as a choreographed routine that will be performed at the Israel Folkdance Festival of Boston and at the Zimkudiyah! They might even pick up some Hebrew along the way!
ONOT Alumna, Ruthie Holzer will be instructing the class with the help of Temple Emanuel dance teacher, Avi Wald.
Tuition is included with Religious School tuition, apart from a $25 t-shirt/costume fee. $180 for students outside of the Religious School. Beginners welcome!
Register→

Baby Brunch
2025-10-05 09:30 - 10:30 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us for a brunch in Feldberg, around the corner from the Housman Activity Room, hosted by Yaffa Tilles, Co-Founder of Boston Birth Village! This is a great opportunity to meet other parents with infants, share stories, and enjoy a delicious FREE breakfast together.
Register Today!
Generously Sponsored by the Cindy Levinson Fund for Parenting Education

Back to School Breakfast and Curriculum Morning
2025-10-05 09:30 - 12:00 | Reisman Hall, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Head on over after dropping off your kids in their classes to eat some delicious food, meet other parents, and hear about TE’s offerings!
Following the breakfast, meet your child’s teachers and learn about what is in store for them for the school year!

Holiday Magic: Sukkot
2025-10-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Reisman Hall, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Celebrate Sukkot with your TE Tots friends! Join Lena and special guest Stacey Shulman, Preschool Director, as we craft our own lulavs and etrogs, decorate the sukkah, and sing songs to welcome guests!
Register→
Generously Sponsored by the Cindy Levinson Fund for Parenting Education

Temple Emanuel Children's Choir
2025-10-05 12:00 - 12:30 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
For any Temple Emanuel children in grades 1-5 who love to sing! Work with Morah Eugenia Gerstein on making beautiful music together.
Meets directly after Religious School (but open to all) from 12:00-12:30. Snack provided!
Register→

ONOT Kayitz Israeli Dance Troupe
2025-10-05 12:00 - 12:45 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
ONOT Kayitz is Temple Emanuel’s premiere Israeli Dance Troupe for teens in grades 6-12!
(ONOT means “seasons” and Kayitz means “Summer”)
Students will learn Harkeda (popular, just-for-fun) dances as well as a choreographed routine that will be performed at the Israel Folkdance Festival of Boston and at the Zimkudiyah! They might even pick up some Hebrew along the way.
ONOT Alumni, Eliana Blankstein and Daniella Bunch will be instructing the class with the help of Temple Emanuel dance teacher, Avi Wald.
$180 includes instruction, costume rental and t-shirt and snacks!
Register→

Sukkot Day I Service with Guest Speaker Dr. Mark Poznansky
2025-10-07 09:30 - 12:00 | Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Sermon topic – Building a Sukkah of Hope One Fellow at a Time
On October 7, 2023, the world changed both in Israel and here in the United States for us as Jews. Antisemitism has become mainstream, most visibly in academia. Join us on the first day of Sukkot, October 7th, as Dr. Mark Poznansky shares stories from the trenches of academic medicine where he and his colleagues are making a difference and charting a path for us to make a difference too.
About Dr. Mark Poznansky
Mark C Poznansky, MD, PhD, is a Professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician in infectious diseases medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and Director of the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center at MGH. He holds a doctoral degree Cambridge University and a medical degree from University of Edinburgh. The translational medical research center, the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, that Dr. Poznansky founded and directs sits at the interface between scientific discovery and medical product development, discovering novel immune processes, defining their molecular mechanisms and exploring their relevance to the development of vaccines and immunotherapies for cancer, infectious diseases and type I diabetes. Dr. Poznansky is also the co-founder of the Harvard Medical School chapter of Kalaniyot which sets as its mission to foster academic relations between Israeli academic medical centers and HMS here in Boston. He is also the co-founder of the Jewish Employee Resource Group at Mass General Brigham that helps support the community of Jewish and Jewish affiliated healthcare workers in this large Massachusetts based healthcare system. Dr. Poznansky also serves on the Board of the newly formed American Jewish Medical Association.

Teen Pizza Dinner in the Sukkah Lounge Night
2025-10-08 18:00 - 19:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join your fellow teens as we enjoy a pizza dinner in the Sukkah and then head to the Youth Lounge for games and socializing. Come and celebrate Sukkot with us!
Grades 8-12
Cost: $10
Register→

Sisterhood Opening Event: Music and Mingling
2025-10-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Adelson Community Hall, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Please join us for a joyous evening with beautiful music, delicious food and socializing. Musical entertainment will be by our own Lisa Litant and the TE Klezmer band! Connect with old friends and meet new ones as we gather together to start the new year.
New Sisterhood members are invited to come at 6:30pm for a special welcome!
Dinner is complimentary for Temple Emanuel members. Non-member tickets are available for $36 each.
Register→
For questions, contact Julie Lipsett.

Yisod Game Night in the Sukkah
2025-10-08 19:30 - 22:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Enjoy an epic night of board games under the Sukkah with Yisod! We’ll have lots of board games and feel free to bring your favorites too. Light drinks and snacks will be provided—you’re welcome to BYO drinks and snacks as well!
This event is for adults in their 20s and 30s.
No cost but registration is required.
Register→

Introduction to Yiddish: Words, Music, and Humor with TE Member, Arnie Glick
2025-10-09 14:00 - 15:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Arnie Glick, a Yiddish enthusiast and singer, and the creator of the Yiddish-themed cartoons called “Shmoozin,” will be leading a two-session program about Yiddish words, expressions, humor, and music.
Session Information
First Session: Thursday, September 11 @ 6:30 pm
Yiddish in the Sukkah: Thursday, October 9 @ 2:00 pm
This will be followed, on November 18th by an afternoon concert of Yiddish music, sponsored by L’CHAIM at Temple Emanuel, that Arnie will be giving along with pianist David Sparr and klezmer clarinetist Glenn Dickson.
Come to some or all! Everyone is invited! No prior Yiddish knowledge is required.
Register→

5th Annual Mystery Scotch in the Sukkah
2025-10-09 19:00 - 22:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
5th Annual Blind Scotch Tasting & Dinner in the Brezniak Sukkah!
Hosted by Temple Emanuel Brotherhood – open to all!
Join us for an unforgettable, spirited evening in the sukkah with:

Unlimited blind tastings of top-shelf scotch (guess what’s what!)
Rami’s buffet dinner + non-alcoholic drinks
Your own custom tasting glass to take home

Admission

$50 per person

2nd Annual Raffle – Back by Popular Demand!
Purchase raffle tickets to enter one or more of many prize bundles, each worth $250+! Last year, 6 prizes totaled over $3,000 in value! Past prizes included rare spirits, golf outings, fine dining, Red Sox tickets, and more.
How it works:

We will have several prizes, each with its own “fishbowl” or separate raffle.
Drop as many tickets as you like in each “fishbowl”—one ticket for a single chance at a single prize and additional tickets in one fishbowl for better odds at a single prize.
Per below, buy 12 tickets for half price!
One prize per person (if you’re drawn more than once, pick your favorite prize won, and we redraw the other.)
Must be present at the final scotch reveal to win. If you leave early, leave your ticket and designate a friend to accept on your behalf.

Raffle Tickets

$12 each or $72 for 12 tickets ($6 each; half-price!)

Over 120 people attended last year! Reserve early for yourself and a friend—this event may sell out!
Register Here→
Questions, contact Josh Ehrenfried

Lunch in the Sukkah
2025-10-10 12:00 - 13:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
The TE community is welcome to bring their own lunches to the Brezniak Sukkah. Enjoy our Sukkah with the TE community!
The Sukkah will be open for members to eat lunch from 12-1pm on October 10th.
No registration required.
Contact LauraSue with any questions.

A Taste of Shabbat Alive
2025-10-10 17:45 - 18:15 | Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us in the Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat service filled with singing, dancing, and stories, geared specifically for families with young children from birth to age 5. After services, we’ll share a festive Shabbat dinner in Adelson Community Hall – a perfect place to meet other young families!
Registration required.
Register→
Generously supported by the Dr. Trudy Karger Family Education Fund

Rocking Tot Shabbat with Wayne Potash
2025-10-11 11:00 - 11:45 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us for a special Rock n’ Roll Tot Shabbat with rockstar Wayne Potash! In this fabulous service, we have prayerful songs and games perfect for children from birth to age 5 and their parents. Join us for the service and then stay for a delicious lunch with friends!

Family Sukkahfest!
2025-10-12 10:00 - 12:00 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Come join us for a Sukkot celebration! There will be some fun activities, including candy sukkah making and a petting zoo!
Register→
This program is presented in partnership with the IAC

Gan/Kindergarten Kabbalat Torah Ceremony
2025-10-14 18:00 - 18:30 | Gann Chapel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Gan (Kindergarten) students begin their Jewish learning journey by receiving their very own mini-Torahs from the clergy.
Dancing and celebrating for Simchat Torah immediately following the ceremony!
If your child is not yet enrolled in Religious School, please email Risa Wagner to make sure we have your child on the list to receive a Torah.

Erev Simchat Torah Celebration
2025-10-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Leventhal-Sidman Community Court, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us for a community celebration in the Leventhal-Sidman Community Court, featuring Hakafot led by the TE Children’s Choir and Tizmoret Teen Band!

Teen Ice Cream Party after Simchat Torah
2025-10-14 19:30 - 20:30 | Solomon Youth Lounge, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Come and join us in the Solomon Youth Lounge for ice cream after Simchat Torah services!
All Temple Emanuel teens, grades 6-12 ,and parents are invited to join.
No RSVP required.

Modern Spoken Hebrew III
2025-10-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
Spoken Modern Hebrew: Everyday Language for Life and Legacy
This continuing course welcomes all learners at an equivalent level. Together, we read, write, speak, and listen in Hebrew—building practical skills for everyday life and deepening our connection to the language.
It’s a golden opportunity to model Hebrew for our children and grandchildren, while also supporting cognitive health and brain function.
Newcomers: We’d love to welcome you! To assess your level and join the course, please reach out to Sigalit.
Session Dates
Session 1: Oct 16, 23, 30; Nov 6, 13, 20; Dec 4
Session 2: Dec 11, 18; Jan 8, 15, 22, 29; Feb 5
Session 3: Feb 12, 26; Mar 5, 12, 19, 26; Apr 16
Session 4: Apr 23, 30; May 4, 14, 28; June 4, 11
Register→

K-5 Shabbat Alive Dinner
2025-10-17 17:45 - 18:30 | In Person – Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Join us for our monthly K-5 Shabbat Alive dinner! We’ll start with a Shabbat dinner in Adelson Community Hall at 5:45PM and meet other families! After dinner, we will head over to Kabbalat Shabbat services in the Rabbi Samuel Chiel Sanctuary. We are so excited to have you join us!
Registration required for each dinner.
Register→

Yisod Bingo Shabbat Dinner
2025-10-17 18:30 - 21:30 | Reisman Hall, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Test your luck with Yisod in a boisterous game of bingo over a delicious Shabbat dinner! There will be tantalizing prizes for the winners, so save your seat now!
This is a 21+ event. If you need support finding a babysitter, please contact Lena Ravitch.
Register→
